Wind Tunnel Testing Of Heavy Class Attack Helicopter In A Pressurized Wind Tunnel and Validation of CFD Analyses

Heavy class attack helicopter development program aims to develop a new generation assault helicopter with high weapon capacity and modern combat technologies. Design requirements lead to a complicated aerodynamic shape. Wind tunnel tests gain importance for validation of aerodynamic design decisions and methodologies. A short test campaign is planned in a high Reynolds number environment which is achieved through pressurization. Generation of aerodynamic characteristics, effect of under-wing stores, effectivity of tail surfaces and main rotor hub interactions construct the base of test plan. Tests are conducted under varying pressure and airspeed combinations starting from 1.1 Bar 100 m/s to 3 Bar 85 m/s. Test results are compared with CFD simulations as a part of validation studies. Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes Simulations provide satisfactory results. Improved results are obtained with high fidelity turbulence model, wall modeled very large eddy simulations.